Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals lock horns in IPL 2026 at the Ekana Stadium, with Match 32 set to bring together Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fearless power and Mohammed Shami’s precision in the early overs. The contest also features a series of personal battles that could swing the middle phase—Nicholas Pooran against Ravi Bishnoi, Rishabh Pant against Ravindra Jadeja, and Yashasvi Jaiswal against Avesh Khan—while the wider shape of the game will be shaped by Ekana’s slow, gripping track and hot, dry conditions.
Key takeaways
- Ravi Bishnoi’s past matchups against Nicholas Pooran have been restrictive, with Pooran scoring only 69 runs off 51 balls across their meetings.
- Rishabh Pant has historically had success versus Ravindra Jadeja, making 84 runs while being dismissed just twice, though Jadeja’s economy in IPL 2026 has improved to 6.5.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, aged 15, has already produced 20 sixes and 24 fours in only six IPL 2026 innings, including a standout over against Jasprit Bumrah.
- Mohammed Shami is expected to be the key early-innings threat, with Ekana’s conditions offering help to seamers in the powerplay.
- LSG arrive under pressure after losing four of their last six matches, while RR are placed third and looking to keep their playoff momentum going.
- Ekana’s pitch is forecast to be slow and black-soil, aiding spinners as the game progresses (especially in the 8–15 overs window).
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs Mohammed Shami: youth power meets sharp seam
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to dominate the headlines in IPL 2026, not only for his aggressive batting but also for the respect he earns from established campaigners. In this matchup, the 15-year-old’s striking has been exceptional—he has already cleared the ropes 20 times and struck 24 fours in just six innings, including an eye-catching spell where he hit two sixes against Jasprit Bumrah.
That kind of intent will be tested by Mohammed Shami in the powerplay. Shami’s strength lies in his ability to land the ball in the right seam position with consistent accuracy, and the Ekana Stadium conditions are expected to assist fast bowlers. If the surface offers swing or movement early, it could disrupt Sooryavanshi’s usual approach of “playing on the up” from the first phase of the innings.
Sooryavanshi’s rising reputation has drawn admiration from Aiden Markram as well. Markram described how entertaining it is to watch a teenager with such power, recalling that at 15 he couldn’t even hit a four at that stage of his own development.
Key individual matchups across the middle overs
Nicholas Pooran vs Ravi Bishnoi: This is a tactical contest that could shape the middle phase. Bishnoi has been particularly effective against Pooran, limiting his scoring while also keeping his economy under control. While Pooran has never been dismissed by Bishnoi in their meetings, he has struggled to overpower the bowler. In those encounters, Pooran managed only 69 runs from 51 balls, suggesting that Bishnoi’s variations and disciplined control may again determine whether LSG’s explosive engine finds rhythm.
Rishabh Pant vs Ravindra Jadeja: Another duel worth watching is between Pant and Jadeja, with the matchup defined by aggression meeting precision. Pant has previously posted 84 runs against Jadeja and has been dismissed only twice, and he often looks to attack rather than merely settle. However, Jadeja’s accuracy in IPL 2026 has been notably higher, with an impressive economy rate of 6.5. On a gripping venue such as Ekana—where the ball can hold the surface longer—Jadeja’s improved execution could make it harder for Pant to break the rhythm.
Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Avesh Khan: Jaiswal and Avesh Khan bring contrasting styles into the contest, with a theme of aggression versus control. Jaiswal has dominated the head-to-head in terms of runs, but Avesh has repeatedly responded when it mattered. Their rivalry includes a defining moment in 2025, when Avesh uprooted Jaiswal’s middle stump after Jaiswal had raced to 74. With Avesh capable of hitting hard lengths and extracting bounce, this duel may decide how RR’s powerplay begins and whether LSG can set the tone early.
Predicted playing XIs and impact players
Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Mukul Choudhary, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, M Siddharth.
Impact Player: Mohsin Khan.
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma, Nandre Burger.
Impact Player: Yash Raj Punja.
Venue, timing, and how to watch
The LSG vs RR clash is scheduled at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, with the start time set for 7:30 PM IST.
Broadcast coverage will be on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming is expected to be available on JioHotstar.
Head-to-head: RR hold the advantage
LSG return to Ekana Stadium needing a quick turnaround after dropping four of their six matches so far, and they are still searching for their first home win. Their biggest worry remains an inconsistent top order, which often forces them into recovery mode rather than controlling the tempo from the outset.
RR, currently placed third, are arriving in stronger form and hold an edge—particularly during the powerplay, where Jofra Archer is viewed as a major threat. LSG will look toward Prince Yadav to help manage the early phase. With home advantage yet to translate into results for Lucknow, they will need improvements in batting execution quickly to stay in the contest.
- Matches played: 6
- Rajasthan Royals won: 4
- Lucknow Super Giants won: 2
Weather and pitch outlook at Ekana
Conditions are expected to be hot and dry for today’s IPL 32nd match at Ekana. The temperature is around 37°C with humidity at 15%, and a high of 41°C has already been recorded earlier in the day. Moderate dew is forecast for the second innings, which typically helps batters by encouraging the ball to skid onto the bat.
The pitch is projected to be a slow, black-soil surface that benefits bowlers, especially spinners, as the match progresses. Pacers may get early swing and movement with the new ball during the powerplay. In the middle overs—around 8 to 15—spinners are expected to find grip and turn, making it tougher for batters to time the ball cleanly.
Opening-pair clash and LSG’s containment plan
This game also carries the weight of a headlining opening duel: Yashasvi Jaiswal against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, up against an LSG bowling attack that has been effective in limiting scoring in T20’s ever-changing environment.
LSG sit ninth in the standings with two wins and four losses, fighting for survival in the tournament. RR are positioned fourth with four wins and two losses, and they will be aiming to push further toward the playoff picture.
Both RR openers have been influential this season. Sooryavanshi has scored 246 runs across six innings at an average of 41.00 and a strike rate of 236.52, including two fifties. Jaiswal has made 223 runs in six innings at an average of 55.75 and a strike rate of 152.73, also with two fifties. Combined, they have averaged 54.66 and scored at 11.44 runs per over.
However, LSG’s bowling unit offers a counter-argument. The pace group has posted the best economy rate (8.77) and the best dot-ball percentage (41.8) this season, and the trio of Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, and Prince Yadav can apply pressure early and prevent RR’s openers from settling into a rhythm.
Shami’s role could be especially important, with five instances of taking the wicket on the first ball of the innings. That sets up a notable matchup with Sooryavanshi, who has a habit of going hard from ball one and has struck more sixes than any other batter since his IPL debut last year—44.
Where each team stands in IPL 2026
Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals meet in Match 32 of IPL 2026 on Wednesday, April 22, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. Both sides are looking to regain momentum at a crucial stage of the campaign.
For LSG, the season has been difficult so far, with Rishabh Pant’s group placed ninth and holding just two wins from six matches. Their victories have come against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, but a stretch of three consecutive defeats has slowed their progress. The hosts will be eager to stop the slide and revive their season with a much-needed win.
RR, led by Riyan Parag, have had a stronger start and are third in the standings with four wins from six outings. After beginning the tournament with four successive victories, RR have stumbled in their last two matches and will be looking to bounce back quickly to strengthen their playoff push.
Full squads for the match
Rajasthan Royals squad: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (w), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Sandeep Sharma, Shubham Dubey, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Yash Raj Punja, Adam Milne, Dasun Shanaka, Tushar Deshpande, Kuldeep Sen, Sushant Mishra, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Kwena Maphaka, Vignesh Puthur, Aman Rao Perala.
Lucknow Super Giants squad: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, Manimaran Siddharth, Mohsin Khan, Abdul Samad, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Matthew Breetzke, Mayank Yadav, Himmat Singh, George Linde, Josh Inglis, Anrich Nortje, Arjun Tendulkar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akash Maharaj Singh, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Arshin Kulkarni, Naman Tiwari.
